MMC’s collapse leaves publishers seeking to recoup up to £700k in debts owed and hundreds of thousands of magazines have been left impounded in warehouses.

Founded in 1988 the distributor supplied over 400 titles, including The Oldie and The Spectator, direct to wholesalers including WH Smith & R S McColl and exported titles to 58 different countries.

Joint administrators Sallyanne Pitt and Paul Clark of MCR were appointed on May 21 after no buyers could be found for the struggling business.